Month: February 2014

Since 1983, Brian Shechtman has owned and operated Santa’s Enchanted Forest Christmas theme park in Miami, Florida. With more than 100 rides, shows, and attractions, the park also features the largest Christmas tree in South Florida and millions of holiday lights. Brian Shechtman welcomes many charitable organizations to the park each year, one of which is the I Have a Dream Foundation, a group that provides academic and social support to students from low-income areas. It is one of his favorite charities.

Founded in 1981 in New York City, the I Have a Dream Foundation supports students nationwide through a number of local chapters. The I Have a Dream Foundation of Miami, for example, originally adopted 97 students from the second grade class at Charles R. Drew School in Liberty City. By providing academic support, as well as cultural and recreational activities throughout the students’ elementary, middle, and high school careers, the program helped 95 of its Dreamers reach 12th grade. In 2005, a total of 83 of the students graduated high school. Furthermore, 60 went on to university education, and have either graduated from, or are currently attending, institutes of higher learning.